Херојство нових генерација: ἀριστεία у Цицероновим писмима Атику
Heroism of New Generations: Ἀριστεία in Cicero’s Letters to Atticus

Summary/Abstract: Previous studies of Cicero's bilingualism have shown that it is a complex phenomenon, many aspects of which offer a wide field for future research. Our paper focuses on the use of the Greek lexeme ἀριστεία in Cicero's letters to Atticus. In the first two cases, the letters sent at the beginning of May 44, the given lexeme reflects the author’s euphoric mood at the occasion of Dolabella’s activities in Rome directed against the devotees of the Caesar’s cult, and it has a fully affirmative connotation. On the other hand, in the third letter, dated at the beginning of November of the same year, the lexeme ἀριστεία does not refer any more to Dolabella, but to some other member of the new generation, perhaps Octavian. Also, in this case, the Greek lexeme does not have an affirmative tone. From Cicero’s last letters to Atticus it is evident that Cicero, although his confidence and patience with the behavior of the younger generations is dwindling, finds himself compelled to side with those among them he considers to be less harmful for the state, first and foremost, with Brutus and Octavian.

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